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When to Plant Onion in Dent County, MO

Onions are a fundamental kitchen staple available in yellow, white, and red varieties. Choose long-day, short-day, or intermediate types based on your latitude.

Dent County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 10 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 774 feet, Dent County receives approximately 31.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Onion during the growing season.

Dent County, MO (Zone 6a) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 10
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Dent County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (56 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (60 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Aug 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Sep 10

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 595 gal / 100 sq ft
Onion needs ~1,916 GDD — county provides 3,650 GDD Excellent fit

Onion Planting Timeline โ€” Dent County, MO

Onion Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 6 Mar 6 โ€“ Mar 20
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ Apr 24
Direct Sow March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 17
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1
Harvest July 10 Jul 10 โ€“ Aug 28

Plant 1" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

90โ€“120 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

200 days

Growing Tips for Dent County

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before transplanting. Match day-length type to your latitude. Stop watering when tops begin to fall over and cure bulbs for 2-3 weeks before storage.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Peas
  • Green Beans
  • Asparagus

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Onion in Dent County, MO?

Dent County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 10. Plan your Onion planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dent County, MO?

Dent County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 10 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Dent County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Dent County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.